Bethel Baptist Church

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38 Matthew and Luke both record that Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus, but only Luke writes about the conversation between the angel Gabriel and Mary.  This account parallels, in many ways, the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist. Among other significant truths revealed in this passage, is the staggering fact that Mary would give birth to a son...

Bethel Baptist Church is delighted to host visiting missionaries from Iceland Dale and Linnea Kellar.

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:1-4 The Holy Spirit has chosen to give us four accounts of the life of Christ, and not just one account.  Like four men standing around a great mountain, each writing what he sees, the gospel writers each wrote from a different viewpoint what he 'saw' when he looked at Christ. Matthew and John were apostles and so they were eyewitnesses of Christ's life.  Mark seems to ha...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 22:6-21 The epilogue of the book of Revelation highlights two final themes ... the authenticity of the book and the approaching wonder of the return of Christ. As Christ is called "faithful and true" in Revelation 3:14 and 19;11, so His words are "faithful and true" in Revelation 21:5 and 22:6. There is a marked emphasis in Revelation on what John has written (Rev 1:3...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 22:1-15 John ends his glorious book by describing heaven to his readers.  Here we have a final description of the population of heaven ... and the pleasure of heaven. The people who will enjoy the presence of God will be His servants who will reign with Him (Rev 22:3,5).  They are the righteous and holy, who have washed their robes (Rev 22:11,14).  The people who will...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:9-27 Revelation 21 and 22 usher us into the eternal state of blessedness for those who belong to Christ and sorrow for those who have rejected Christ.  The everlasting home for believers is the new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem.  The eternal city is gloriously described in this passage.  This wondrous, and enormous, city descends from heaven and is called "t...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:1-8 In this glorious section of Revelation, God draws back the curtain of heaven and bids us to behold the wonders and pleasures that await those who belong to Him.  He says, "Behold, I am making all things new" (Rev 21:5).  There are several ways in which God will make things new. First, He will make a new universe.  "I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the fi...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 20:11-15 This passage describes a great judgment before God in a future day.  This will be a judgment in which the dead are raised and judged "according to what they had done" (Rev 20:13).  Scholars debate whether this "great white throne" judgment will be for unbelievers alone or for all people.  What is not debatable is the reality that, whether in one judgment or i...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 20:7-15 In the middle ages, the Italian theologian and poet, Dante Alighieri, wrote his famous Inferno .  In this lengthy poem he described the horrors of hell.  The sign above the gateway to Dante's hell read:  ABANDON HOPE, ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE .   It is a fitting statement.  There is no hope in hell, no community, no joy or peace or love. John's phrase for the pla...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 20:1-10 In light of the multiplied and complicated problems of our world, it is clear that what the world needs is a king … someone to rule in divine wisdom and perfect justice and holy compassion.  A king is exactly what God promised to David and through David, in what is usually called the Davidic Covenant. "When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I...

Scripture Reading: John 3:1-8, 16-21 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16) The most beloved and memorized verse in the Bible is John 3:16.  In this wondrous sentence we have a summary of God's glorious plan for securing a people for Himself for all eternity.  Considering who God is and who we...

Revelation 19:11-21 Distinct from the religions of the world (Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism), Christianity rests on the identity of a person … Jesus.  So, the question 'Who is Jesus?' is all important in the Christian faith.  Many folks would allow that He was a good teacher (maybe the best ever) … a sterling moral example … a great man.  These statements are all true, but Jesus was infinitely more th...

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23 The point being made in Ephesians 1:20-23 is straightforward enough.  Having risen from the dead, Jesus has been exalted as head over all things.  Conquering death itself, He now rules as sovereign over all authorities, seated at the right hand of God the Father. He reigns, not only now, but forever and leads His church as its regal and tender head. It is the ...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 19:6-10 Revelation 19 contains a stirring image of the relationship between Christ and His people.  The imagery is of a joyous wedding ceremony.   "Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready." What a beautiful picture of the relationship between Christ and His own.  A marriage calls to m...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 17:8 Revelation 17:8 refers to people "whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world."  Philippians 4:3 refers to people "whose names are in the book of life."  Though there are people whose names have never been written in God's book of life, the Bible is clear that this reality does not excuse someone from personal accountabi...

Bethel Baptist Church was honored to host Reverend Joel David, North America Baptist Vice President of International Missions, during this years NAB Detroit Area Missions Conference. 

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:22-47, 1 Peter 1:12 As the church puts the glory of our risen Savior on display before a dying world and before the curiously marveling angelic realms, our crucified, risen Savior and gloriously coming King will be with us every step of the way.   "It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you thro...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 18, 19 The city of Babylon is considered by some historians and archaeologists to have been the greatest city in the ancient Near East.  With its thick double walls and scores of fortified towers, people living 600 years before Christ must have thought it to be unconquerable.  Today the glory that was once great Babylon has utterly vanished, except in history books. R...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 17 Revelation 17,18 describe, at length, the global kingdom of the antichrist during the coming time of tribulation. We have already seen, in chapter 13, that there will be both a political leader and religious leader in this vast kingdom … the beast, and the false prophet.   The political/religious structural system of the kingdom of the antichrist is called 'Babylon...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 16:1-11 The Nature of the Human Heart Revelation 16 contains the third, and last, series of divine judgments on the population of the earth during the coming day of tribulation.  It is a description of the seven bowl judgments.  God is declared to be just because He has poured out His wrath on the wicked. "Just are you, O Holy One . . . for you have brought these judg...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 15:1-8 Before each of the series of divine judgments on the earth, during the tribulation time, John describes a heavenly scene.  The vision of heaven in chapters 4,5 precedes the judgments of the seven seals.  The heavenly scene in Revelation 8:2-5 precedes the judgments of the seven trumpets.  The bowl judgments will be described in chapter 16, but now, before those...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 14:9-20 In the middle of a biblical text about the dreadful wrath of God is a passage designed to be a great encouragement to Christians.  Following a passage declaring the God's wrath "poured full strength into the cup of his anger" (Rev 14:10), we read about the "perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus" (Rev 14:12, LSB)....

Scripture Reading: Revelation 13:11-18 A second beast appears in Revelation 13, "exercising all the authority of the first beast . . . and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast" (Rev 13:12).  This beast is called the 'false prophet' in Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10.  This title suggests that he will bring a religious element to the kingdom of the antichrist.  He will have th...

Scripture Reading: Revelation 13:1-10 Much of the focus of Revelation is on what God will doing on the earth during the time of tribulation.  The holy Judge will pour out His righteous justice on the inhabitants of the earth, in a series of horrendous, global judgments.  In Revelation 12-14, however, the focus is on what Satan will be doing on the earth during the tribulation. Chapter 13 introduce...

Scripture Reading; Revelation 12:1-12 To this point in the book of Revelation, much of the focus has been on what God will be doing on the earth during the time of tribulation.  God will pour out His holy justice on the inhabitants of the earth, in a series of horrendous, global judgments.  In Revelation 12-14, the focus is on what Satan will be doing on the earth during the tribulation. In richly...